08/24/2007

Special to the Record-Eagle
Crossroads Ceili band plays as part of the Harbor Celtic Festival on Saturday night in Harbor Springs.

Bliss brings out the Irish

Celtic Festival celebrates Emmet's legacy

BY EMMY PARSONS

eparsons@record-eagle.com

HARBOR SPRINGS — A group of Emmet County residents began worrying in the early 1990s that people didn't understand the significance of their county's namesake, Robert Emmet.

So when the Blissfest Music Organization created the Harbor Celtic Festival five years ago, the Robert Emmet Society relished the chance to share some of their history.

"It's heritage; it's legacy,” said George Colburn, a member of the Robert Emmet Society. "We like people to know in Emmet County what this is about, and this is a way for us to put it before people in a group that's beyond our sort of inner circle, and it's a fun time. Lots of Irish ... workshops, Irish dance and music and so on.”

As a great Irish patriot who fought in a Nationalist uprising against the British, Emmet was hanged in 1803.

"As far as a hero, an icon, Robert Emmet was the most prominent person of that time,” Colburn said.

So throughout the two-day festival, running today and Saturday, society members spread the legacy of Emmet using song, dance and workshops, while also raising funds to send students from North Central Michigan College to Ireland. In the last 10 years the society has sent eight students to Irish universities.

"This whole area has an Irish heritage because the Irish were very instrumental in not only settling this country in those days but in building the infrastructure,” Colburn said.

This year's festival kicks off today with a pub crawl through four bars in the Harbor Springs area from 4 p.m. to midnight. There will also be a showing of "The Boys and Girls from County Clare” in Zorn Park from 8:30 to 10 p.m. At each location, a band will play Irish tunes.

The festivities continue on Saturday with workshops featuring everything from a presentation on the history of Robert Emmet to bagpipe demonstrations and an "Irish Show and Tell.” This year's closing performance will be by the Crossroads Ceili Band from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Harbor Performing Arts Center.

Gail Edwards, the Blissfest administrative assistant, said the Detroit-based band has strong Irish roots and a very traditional sound.

Workshops and the movie are free of charge, but tickets must be purchased for the performance. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children. For more information about the festival, call 348-7047 or visit www.blissfest.org.